Atheist organizations are collaborating to sponsor an asylum seeker living under an oppressive Islamic theocracy who is forced to flee for safety after their writing brought threats of persecution for apostasy.

Ottawa, Ontario

$13,000 target

14%

funded

$1915

raised

0

days left

About this project

The Humanist Association of Ottawa (HAO) and other secular
groups internationally have recently been contacted by an atheist blogger
living under a theocratic Islamic government. His/her writings have offended Islamic
groups, who are now seeking the blogger in order to turn them over to the
government. They are seeking to have the blogger prosecuted for apostasy (the
act of leaving a religion). Simply no longer believing the teachings of a
religion is a thought crime which carries the death penalty in several Islamic
countries, including the one in question here.

Identifying details including the individual's name and
nationality are not posted on this site out of
concerns over their physical security.

The HAO is collaborating with CFI-Ottawa and other atheist
groups to raise the required funds needed to sponsor the blogger's application
to seek asylum in Canada. Nobody should have to face death for a thought crime.

This project seeks to fund an asylum-seeker's application to
resettle in Canada as a refugee. The duties of a Canadian refugee sponsor
include covering the costs of living for the one year term of the sponsorship,
connecting him/her with language training and helping in the employment search to
resettle successfully in Canada. Once safely established in Canada, the blogger
will be free to exercise the right to freedom of expression in peace and to
share their story and their ideas.

Use of project funds

All funds raised will be used only for the refugee
sponsorship to cover the cost of living, flight to Canada, and medical expenses
among the other expenses for which the sponsoring organization will be liable.
The sponsor must provide direct income support and housing for one year upon
arrival in Canada.

If for any reason we are not able to successfully bring this
person to Canada, all funds will be donated to the United Nations High
Commission for Refugees and to the Syrian conflict relief efforts of Doctors
Without Borders.

Project milestones

It is incredibly difficult to predict timelines for this
project. However, the first step will be to gather the funds required to submit
an application to sponsor the asylum seeker. As soon as possible thereafter, an
application will be submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada and we will
try to bring the blogger here safely and as quickly as possible. Before
arrival, there are criminal, security, and medical checks.

The Humanist Association of Ottawa (HAO) has a 45 year history of bringing together atheists in the Ottawa area to learn about topics in science and morality, meet, share ideas, and strive for positive social change with policies informed by evidence.